The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-02
The Cattle Investigation.

To the Editor of the Press:
In writing short letter to your paper
few days since l was well aware that laid
myself open to criticism and thank you kind
ly for letting me down so easily. But one
word please. My intentions were to ascer-
tain where to place you. Now as we under
stand each other let us talk business for
moment. | was well aware that not only
editors but interested people we're circulating
rumors that were detrimental to our in
terests by being based without evidence.
Now wish to be understood that no man
will endorse fair and impartial investiga-
ton in regard to diseased cattle in our State
more heartily than myself knowing we'll that
our cattle interests are the foundation upon
which our agricultural interests are based,
and every man, whether he be farmer, me-
chanic, lawyer or editor, should do his utmost
to foster this most important interest.
As far as the investigation is concerned, |
have nothing particular to say until it is
closed. But hope it will be fair and impair
tial. and if there is disease lurking around in
our State, that stringent measures will be
taken to stamp it out, and that the trustees
of the College, and also the cattle commits
sioners, will stand up and bear their share of
the blame, il blame there is in the past man.
agement of affairs, although l cannot see
where any Of them were to blame. / think
they all did the best they knew under the cir
cumstarces. Some say that Secretary Gilbert
is responsible for all this trouble. How can
that be, when he was not in the majority,
either in the board of trustees or in the cattle
| commissioners? If the other members had
not agreed with him why didn't they 90 on
and carry cut their policy? They were the
majority, and it was their duty to know what
was going on upon the college farm the same
| as was his. And they are just as respon-
sible for what was done and for what was
not done as he. And consider him lust as
honest and sincere, and ready to do and act
| for the best interests of our agricultural COM
munity as the gentleman who sits at. the ell
bow of lawyer Cornish, debating questions
| to be answered at the investigation. You
say, Mr.. Editor, that you disagree with me in
regard to stocking of the college farm. What
| do you propose to do with that farm? 1t be-
longs to the State. We have got it upon our
hands, in good state of cultivation. VIII
| it be good judgment to suffer it to deteriorate
and grow up to weeds and bushes? Would
that be an honor to the institution? l say
no. We will grant that the college was Gre
ted for educational purposes. Allow me to in
form you that the true name of the institution
| is the State College of Agriculture and Me-
chanic Arts. Why did you leave out the
word agriculture ?' 1t belongs there and
was so called by the founders of the institu-
ton, and so understood by those who have
so literally endowed it: And we don't pro-
| pose to suffer this word to be rubbed out 1t
is a school especially for farmers sons and
those who desire to become educated in the
| art and sciences of agriculture and mechanic
arts. 1t should be a SCHOOL by itself, en-
bracing the lch0te line of agriculture and
brought down to the solid facts Of science
| theory and practice, and sealed by the
sweat of the students face upon the farm
| soil. In order to become educated in agricul-
ture we must have the tools to work with.
would not endorse the policy of any especial
| line of cattle husbandry, such as dairying
and competing with dairymen outside
| There is something in store better than this
| for us if properly managed.
Yes, say again, the college farm should
| be stocked with variety of the most relia-
animals, with accounts and records kept
with the different breeds. The calves
should be raised and kept for sale at reason
able prices just enough to pay expenses.
| Then instead Of farmers being obliged to
pay fancy breeders from two to three hun
bred dollars for a thoroughbred animal, they
| would come within the reach of the common
farmer. Then their blood would be spread
J broadcast over our State and add thousands
| of dollars to our cattle interests. Then the
| farm would pay good revenue to the State
| And we could well safford to be taxed to sup
| port it. Let us not throw trigs before the
| wheels of progress in this most progressive
( day of the worlds history. If there is
| wrong let the wrong be set right and move
! along.
But alas there appears to be war in our
| own camp. And while we are contending
| and disagreeing among ourselves, the
| judges are all getting their salaries raised.
the lawyers are getting all their measures
| through the legislature with ease, and when
the poor farmers come up at the eleventh
hour for their pittance they will be obliged,
as usual, to wait until the next legislature
meets. j. M. DEERING.